The Yeomen Of The Guard at New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth

MIKE ALLEN

THIS WEEK IN 1975: Props consortium could save groups

Hot to trot. Not an expression that would have been familiar to Gilbert and Sullivan but a fair summary of Anneka Wass’s never-a-dull-moment performance as Phoebe.

With her golden singing allied to an expressive face and quirky movements, she puts 21st century life into the University of Portsmouth Dramatic and Musical Society production – and helps establish this as bitter-sweet G & S.

Emily Buck’s Elsie is also beautifully sung and Paul Heelis’s jailer is well-characterised. If weaknesses are inevitable in such a company, with words notably elusive in patter songs, the production remains one to relish.